After welcoming more than 43,000 people through the City Rail Link stations during a series of First Look events, attention is now turning to the first passenger services.
Enthusiasts and early risers will have the chance to be among the first on board, with first services from around 5am on Sunday 13 September, and a busy first day is expected.
"For many people, this was the first opportunity to experience the stations, understand how the network will work and see the scale of the transformation that is about to take place. We've loved seeing those lightbulb moments as people realise how much easier and faster their journeys will become," says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Stacey van der Putten.
The impact extended beyond the station gates, with businesses around Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu Stations reporting some of their best ever trading days.
Business leaders described it as a glimpse of the positive impact the CRL will have, bringing more people, energy and economic activity into the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Brent Kennedy, Uptown Precinct Leader:
'It was a tremendous success. The joy and excitement seen at Maungawhau Station flowed out around the Uptown neighbourhood. Hospitality businesses were happily run off their feet with new customers, some registering record sales, people were in a celebratory mood.”
Jamey Holloway, General Manager, Karangahape Road Business Association:
“Karanga-a-Hape Station is a game-changer for K Road, opening up this iconic part of Auckland to even more people and inviting them to experience the creativity, culture, food and people that make Karangahape so unique.”
Viv Beck, CEO, Heart of the City:
"We’re excited that the opening of the City Rail Link and Te Waihorotiu Station marks the beginning of a new era for the city centre, bringing more people, energy and opportunity to local businesses.”
The First Look events were funded jointly by Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Ltd and KiwiRail and delivered in collaboration with Auckland One Rail, Downer and local business associations.
"Welcoming more than 43,000 people through the stations has been an incredible milestone. The enthusiasm, curiosity and pride we've seen from visitors has been overwhelming and the big smiles on people’s faces demonstrates just how much Aucklanders are looking forward to the CRL opening,” says City Rail Link Ltd CEO Patrick Brockie.
“The First Look events have given Aucklanders a glimpse of what's coming, but the real excitement lies ahead – 13 September is the day we will be celebrating with all Aucklanders! Getting on the CRL will become business as usual and that’s the ultimate goal - stations filled with passengers and part of everyday life for hundreds of thousands of people,” says KiwiRail Chief Metro Officer Bevan Assink.
Aucklanders are seeing more signs that opening is drawing near. Across the rail network teams are now replacing and updating signage to reflect the biggest changes to Auckland's rail network in more than a century.
From stations and platforms to maps and customer information, the rollout will help prepare Aucklanders for the new network and stations that will soon become part of everyday journeys.
First Trains on CRL Day 1 opening
Passenger train services on the first day, Sunday 13 September, will be operating as a special timetable throughout the day, including first services departing from across the network. Please refer to the AT Journey Planner and AT Mobile for departure and arrival times on this first day, as the timetable is different from the future standard Sunday timetable.
First services on 13 September will be departing earlier than a standard Sunday timetable, from around 5am from across the network.
Trains on the East West line will depart from Henderson, Swanson, Puhinui, Manukau and Waitematā, with first services on the South City from Pukekohe, Puhinui, Parnell and Newmarket (see table below).
This gives lots of options to be on a first passenger service through the CRL departing from across the network.
Demand for trains throughout the day is expected to be high.
“We know many people will be keen to be on one of the first services, and we encourage people to start their first journey from their local station. Trains from right across the network will be travelling through the CRL from early that morning, so there will be plenty of opportunities to be part of this historic day,” says Stacey van der Putten.
The new off-peak timetable means trains will run every 15 minutes all day on weekends. However, for opening on Sunday 13 September, there will be additional services on the East West and South City line above the standard Sunday timetable.
Auckland Transport will also have ambassadors positioned across the rail network to help passengers navigate the new stations and services.
"They'll be on hand to help answer questions, provide directions and make it easier for people to find their way around the new network," says Ms van der Putten.
“We know people are excited to experience the City Rail Link. We ask everyone to be patient and expect trains and stations to be busy as people check out their new network."
KiwiRail and Auckland One Rail will also deploy extra staff during the opening period to ensure train services and track infrastructure run smoothly, and any issues can be responded to rapidly.
|
Service |
Origin |
Departure Time |
Time at CRL |
CRL Station |
|
East West (W) |
Henderson |
5.16am |
5.46am |
Maungawhau |
|
East West (W) |
Swanson |
5.23am |
6.01am |
Maungawhau |
|
East West (W) |
Puhinui |
5.23am |
5.57am |
Waitematā |
|
East West (E) |
Manukau |
5.33am |
6.11am |
Waitematā |
|
East West (E) |
Waitematā |
5.27am |
5.27am |
Waitematā |
|
South City |
Ōtāhuhu |
4.57am |
5.22am |
Karanga-a-Hape |
|
South City |
Pukekohe |
5.21am |
6.27am |
Karanga-a-Hape |
|
South City |
Puhinui |
5.12am |
5.42am |
Karanga-a-Hape |
|
South City |
Newmarket |
5.26am |
5.39am |
Karanga-a-Hape |
|
South City |
Parnell |
5.31am |
5.39am |
Waitematā |
